A few days ago, when visitors visited the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) at the University of Montreal, where I have been conducting cancer research for more than twenty years, I presented the portrait of the Institute, whose progress and successes I have witnessed since its founding. While I was bragging about these accomplishments, one of the visitors asked me a question as simple as it was complex which caught my attention: “Considering the research carried out in the four corners of the world in cancerology, why is there still no no ultimate cure for cancer? »
This question raises multiple issues that must be explored to understand their full scope.
First, we must clarify the biological complexity underlying cancer. Basically, it is a disruption of our own cells. Unlike infections like the common cold or COVID-19, caused by external agents that invade our body, cancer begins from a cell in our own body. This cell, much more complex than a virus or a bacteria, adopts abnormal behavior and begins to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner, thus forming a mass called a tumor.
Considering that the human body is made up of trillions of cells, and that it is the accumulation of mutations in specific genes that leads to the development of cancer, we better understand why this problem is so difficult to solve. Various mutations in a range of genes can transform healthy cells into cancerous cells, which further complicates the search for universal solutions. Furthermore, it is more accurate to speak of “cancers” in the plural, since there are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with its biological particularities. Enough to mobilize our thinking and our research efforts for many years!
It is precisely because of the scale of the challenge that many research institutes around the world are joining forces to share their discoveries and innovations. This collaboration is, in fact, essential. Cancer research requires all available expertise to elucidate the various mechanisms at the origin of cancers. Thanks to these collective efforts, the pieces of the puzzle are gradually coming together, and innovative treatments are reaching the clinic.
As a result, people with cancer today live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. This means that cancer research efforts are really bearing fruit!
However, and this is where the problem lies, I could not continue without mentioning the crucial importance of continued funding of research, a determining element for the advancement of scientific knowledge. To better understand the scale of the needs, it is estimated that the complete journey of a treatment, from a discovery in the laboratory to the arrival in the clinic and the marketing of a drug, requires more than a billion dollars of investments. This sum includes all expenses, in particular all the unsuccessful attempts which often mark the way before reaching a conclusive result.
Whether it’s a potentially revolutionary innovation or a dead end, the costs associated with research remain unavoidable. It is indeed essential to take the time to explore various avenues, to turn over every stone.
The budget allocated to university research by governments is often questioned, fluctuating according to elections and budgetary constraints. To compensate for these uncertainties, research centers like IRIC rely largely on philanthropy. This valuable support allows us to not only remain at the cutting edge of research, but also to attract the best talents and train tomorrow’s next generation of scientists.
Investing in research gives scientists the tools and time to explore the toughest questions and test ambitious hypotheses that ultimately make a difference. By contributing to the understanding of the biological mechanisms of cancers, we are progressing towards increasingly personalized treatments, capable of favorably changing the prognoses for many patients. By giving us the means to achieve these ambitions, you give us the hope of one day saying the famous “Eureka!” “.
On this National Philanthropy Day, I wish to express my deep gratitude for the generosity of those who give. Your commitment to our mission offers our scientists, who often work in the shadows, the opportunity to dream bigger and advance research for the good of all society.
If you can, donate.
